Ministry giving aid to 12,375 single mothers in S’wak
MIRI: The Ministry of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing presented over RM6.75 million in Children’s Aid to 12,375 single mothers in the first two months of the year.
Assistant Minister of Welfare and Community Wellbeing Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the aid proved no groups are left out of the government’s efforts to develop the state.
“Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg is continuing the late Tok Nan’s ( Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s) legacy and is focusing on bringing the ( gap between) urban and rural areas closer,” he said when launching the Sarawak Single Mothers Empowerment Programme series 2/2017 yesterday.
“The recent move made by the state in acquiring the Bakun Dam is very much needed and our CM also wants to establish a lot of information communication technology ( ICT) so that all people of Sarawak will be able to receive the coverage and the Internet speed that they should get.”
He explained this is also useful for those setting up businesses online, and called on single mothers to take the opportunity to develop themselves.
Dr Abdul Rahman said as of last month, there are 14,485 single mothers registered with the Sarawak Single Mothers Association ( Pitsa), and 700 with the Kuching/Samarahan Carnation Association.
During the programme, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus Faculty of Language and Communication acting dean Dr Ida Fatimawati Adi Badiozaman presented the study ‘An Investigation into Barriers for Single Mothers Re- entry into the Workforce in Urban Sarawak ( Kuching, Samarahan, Bintulu, Miri and Serian)’.
The study found among the reasons for divorce are lack of understanding, third party (in-laws or infidelity), and communication breakdown.
Ida said among the reasons for single mothers leaving their jobs are to care for their children, no transport to commute to work, lack of qualifications for good pay, caring for the elderly, discrimination at work, and health issues.
She added members of the public play an important role in helping single mothers by creating support systems so they would not feel left out.